Charlotte is blessed with some amazing cultural destinations. One of the organization’s responsible for the cultivation of the arts program in the Queen City is the Levine Center for the Arts. The institutions that, when combined, make up the Levine Center for the Arts include the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture, the John S. and James L. Knight Theater and the Mint Museum Uptown.
Each of these facilities are the home to different types of organizations, which were made possible by the Leon Levine Foundation. The Bechtler Museum of Modern Art was formed in partnership with Wells Fargo, the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County and the Bechtler Family. The Bechtler Family collected art for generations and in 2009, Andreas Bechtler committed his collection to the City of Charlotte. The Museum houses more than 1,400 works by 20th century modern artists.
The Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture is a facility that celebrates, and preserves, the contributions African-Americans have made to art, history and culture. Named in honor of Harvey Gantt, the first African-American to be accepted to Clemson University and the first African-American mayor of Charlotte, the Center seeks to highlight those individuals that have made an impact on the African-American culture, as well as empower and educate those who are currently making strides in the community.
The John S. and James L. Knight Theatre (commonly referred to as “The Knight Theatre”) is a 1,150 seat venue that is the home to the NC Dance Theatre and often features performances by the Charlotte Symphony, Opera Carolina, plus additional shows organized by the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center.
The final facility that is included in the Levine Center for the Arts is the Mint Museum. This museum opened in 1936 and is known as the oldest art museum in NC. It houses the largest art collection in the Southeast (over 35,000 pieces) and strives to be a cultural resource for the city, region and state.
To learn more about any of these organizations, and to view their upcoming events, please visit: http://www.levinecenterarts.org/
